Swimming device.



Patented June 4, 191a JOHN WANAT, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June a, rare.

Application filed April 30, 1817. Serial No. 165,527.

transportation of a person or articles over the ground, or snow.

One important object of the invention is to improve the general construction of devices of this character.

A second important object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which can be conveniently transported from place to place and which can be used on ship board as a life raft.

A third important object of the invention is to provide a structure of this character with a sled runner like keel arrangement to enable the device to be used for transport on land.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be hereinafter apparent the inven-. tion consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a swimming device constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. I

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out the objects of this invention there is provided a frame which consists of side members 10 which are parallel at their rear portions and converge at their forward portions to meet in a point or prow 11. On the side portions 10 are strung cylinders 12 which are preferably of cork, the forward cylinder being conoidal at its forward end as indicated at 13 and being provided at the rear of the conoidal residing at Pittsburgh, in

portion with a circumferential groove 14 to receive the under sides of the arms of the user. Between the side members 10 are transverse downwardly dished bars 15 which are held in position by the cork cylinders 12 and whereon the body of the person using the device may be received. Beneath each of the floats thus formed by a side member and its cylinders there is provided a tubular keel member 16 connected at its forward end to the frame by a bolt 17 and closed at its rear end by a rod 18 which has its outer end turned upwardly and forwardly and flattened as at 19 to receive a bolt 20 screwed into the respective frame member 10. Connecting the converging portions of the frame is a transverse member 21 whereon is a cylinder 22 of cork or the like so that the user mayrest his chin on this cylinder and thus have his head held outof water.

In using the device as a'swimming device the operator throws it in the water with the .keels downward and then places his head between the cork cylinders 12 on the cross bars 15, his chin resting on the cylinder 22 and his arms fitting in the grooves 14. He then works his legs and arms in a regular swimming stroke and can thus propel himself through the water. In the rescue of a drowning person the rescuer may proceed on the device to the drowning person and may then pull him up on it and swim with him to the shore. On reaching the shore he may be drawn up on the beach readily by reason of the runners or keels 16 carrying his weight so that the device acts in th1s instance like a sled..

There. has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that many minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material principles thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described but it is wished to include all such as properly come 7 said converging forward ends, and hollow 10 runners fixed beneath said side members and parallel thereto and constituting keels for the device.

In testimony whereof I afix m si J orm Witnesses: Fnnisn Tommnsm,

Wmnrsmw Brnmnsm.

ature. A t 

